The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1869. SUPREME COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 279, 27 November 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27. 1869. SUPREME COURT.

CIVIL SITTINGS. [Before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond]. Yesterday. Mr. Conolly rose to address the jury for the defence at half-past four, and after a speech of an hour and a half the Court ad- - journed for au hour. On the Court resuming, the Attorney-G-eneral addressed the jury for two hours and three-quarters, and his Honor the Judge having summed up, the jury retired at 1 1*25 p.m. At half-past one this morning they returned to Court and informed the Judge that there was a hopeless difference of opinion among them, and not the slightest chance of their ever agreeing. His Honor said that be had no power to dismiss them until they had been locked up for twelve bours, without the consent ot the counsel. The jury therefore retired again, and were locked up until a quarter to three, when the counsel on both sides effected a compromise, each side paying its own costs. We understand that the difference of opinion existed on the second issue — "Were the words spoken and published by the defendant of the plaintiff true ?" Eleven of the jury being of opinion that they were not so ; the twelfth however stoutly maintaining that they were correct. This case concluded the civil sittings of the circuit. On Thursday next the Court meets again for the trial of the men concerned in the late case of manslaughter at Charleston.